PESHAWAR, April 28: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has begun mobilising its leaders, workers and sympathisers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to effectively respond to the leadership’s possible call for agitation against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani over the breach of the Supreme Court orders in the contempt case.

According to insiders, PML-N leaders in the province feel strengthened after the entry of former PML-Q provincial president Engineer Amir Muqam and insist that they can now befittingly answer any call by the high command against the government.

They also voice the hope that the party will sweep the next elections.

However, only the time will prove how true their expectations are.

Over the last some years, PML-N central leadership never paid attention to the strengthening of the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and managed its affairs on ad hoc basis, chiefly due to infighting.

However, it is its good luck that most of the deserters, especially former central general secretary and ex-Senator Saranjam Khan and former provincial minister Abdul Subhan Khan of Mardan, are back to the camp.

No doubt, PML-N is holding corner meetings but what is surprising is that it has yet to announce schedule for the holding of public meetings at district level wherein chief Nawaz Sharif could show up. Currently, almost all political parties, except for Pakistan People’s Party, are actively busy holding big public meetings.

When contacted, PML-N provincial general secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak told Dawn that his party was ready to initiate any anti-government activity on the leadership’s call. He said a crucial meeting of the party’s central working committee would be held on Monday to decide the next line of action against the government.

“We are ready to launch a movement against the government and have already completed our homework for the purpose. We held public meetings from time to time in different districts but now, the party has got strength, especially after Amir Muqam joined in. We are in a position to hold big public meetings anywhere in the province,” he said.

Mr Khattak said in areas like Swabi, Malakand and Peshawar, the party was in a better position. He said he was confident that in the next general elections, PML-N would emerge as the largest party in the province as the ruling coalition had miserably failed to come up to the expectations of the people.

“The people are well aware of massive corruption and nepotism of the rulers. They don’t seem interested in wasting their vote in future by supporting Awami National Party and PPP,” he said.

The PML-N leader alleged that ministers were taking bribe even for transfers and postings and that was why majority of the people learned about their corruption.

When asked about future alliance, he said it was possible with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl and Jamaat-i-Islami. He said the chances of PPP winning the next elections seemed very bleak, especially after the conviction of Prime Minister Gilani by the Supreme Court for contempt.

“Gilani’s image had improved after he appeared before the Supreme Court but now, all of his acts to prove himself a law-abiding citizen have washed away as he has expressed no confidence in the court,” he said.

When contacted, PML-N Youth Wing’s central information secretary Khadim Ali Khan said his party had focused on the areas where it faced problems in the past elections and that after the arrival of Mr Muqam, it had gained strength in the province.Ex-Senator Saranjam Khan said he had done away with his differences with the party leadership unconditionally after Shahbaz Sharif stepped in. He said PML-N would emerge as the strongest party in the province.

Mr Saranjam suggested that PML-N make an alliance with JI or JUI so that it could get maximum seats in the province as the ruling parties won’t be able to win the next time.

“No doubt, Chief Minister Hoti has done a lot of work in Mardan like establishment of educational institutions, building of roads and streets but the people are always interested in personal works and getting money,” he said.

Mr Muqam joined PML-N on April 6 and was made senior vice president afterwards. These days, he is attending receptions by party workers in different districts. His next reception will be at his native district, Shangla, today (Sunday).

Mr Muqam told Dawn that 90 per cent of his supporters in PML-Q had joined PML-N and that they were actively taking part in political activities. He said at least eight former and sitting lawmakers, four ex-district nazims and stalwarts of different parties had joined PML-N along with him.

He said future of the ruling parties was uncertain as they had dodged people by hollow slogans. “We will follow whatever is directed by Mian Nawaz Sharif against the government,” he said.

According to him, ANP claims to have established universities but the Swat University is still without the master’s classes.

The PML-N leader said neither any tsunami (of Imran Khan) nor corrupt rulers could stand in front of the enthusiasm of PML-N workers.

“We left power and joined PML-N by sacrificing our today and tomorrow for the nation’s future and will continue rendering sacrifices needed,” he said.